On the Geo-Political Status Quo in the East Indian Ocean

　　ABSTRACT: Close connections and contact have always been maintained between the Asia Pacific region and the India Ocean, with the East India Ocean playing a particularly significant role. In recent years, a number of states have started playing a role in the East Indian Ocean, with states in the region using this involvement as an excuse to enhance their own activities, thereby raising the global geo-strategic position of the East Indian Ocean. As China’s territorial waters and sovereign territory are in close proximity to this region, China’s dependence on ocean transportation across the Indian Ocean has greatly increased. Against this background, China faces an increasingly complex context in the East Indian Ocean. This article considers the strategic importance of the East Indian Ocean from a geo-political vantage point, illustrating the challenges China faces, and identifying potential responses.